Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

The Office of Student Financial Aid at Northern Illinois University is required by federal regulations to monitor that all enrolled students are making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) towards completion of their degree. All students are monitored for SAP regardless of their eligibility or intent to receive financial aid. Students who do not meet the SAP requirements may lose their eligibility to receive federal and state financial aid. This review by the Office of Student Financial Aid is independent from any review of a student’s academic record conducted by the various academic departments.

New students are considered to be meeting SAP requirements when they are admitted into a degree program. The academic records of all students are reviewed at the end of every term to determine if SAP requirements are being met. A student who does not meet any one of the eligibility criteria (stated below) is determined to not be making satisfactory academic progress towards completion of their degree.

Students will not be notified if they continue to meet all satisfactory academic progress requirements. Students who do not meet all satisfactory academic progress requirements or are approaching maximum time frame requirements will be notified of their SAP status by Z-ID email and mail. It is the student’s responsibility to keep all mail addresses updated via MyNIU Self-Service.